Apparatus for incubating eggs and hatching chicks therefrom



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APPARATUS 'FOR INCUBATING EGGS AND HATCHING CHICKS THEREFROM RAY IVI-PETERSIME,

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APPARATUS FOR INCUBATING EGGS AND HATCHING cHIcxs THEREFROM '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 14, 1935 /mvfwrO/PS /RA M. PETERSIME, RAV M. PETERSIME,

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l. M. PETERsxME ET Al. 2,76,74

APPARATUS FORINCUBATING EGGS AND HATCHING .CHICKS THEREFROM Filed ont. 14, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ln Yr /Nl/E/V/PS IRA M. PETERSIIVIE', RAY M. PETERS/ME;

5) l MPM Oct. "17, 1939. M. PETERSIME ET Al. H5345 APPARATUS FOR INCUBATING EGGS AND HATCH'ING CHICKS THEREFROM Filed Oct. 14, 1955 'T Sheets-Sheet 5 4 a Flag@ @/l Q Q Q S je); z-ha l 7 i4 1% 4a 4 f v 2 36 FIG. 10 37 3g 7 d IRA MPE? E RAY M.PETERSIME,

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Qd. 17, 1939. l. M. PETERslME E1- AA. 2,176,745

I. APPARATUS FOR INCUBATING EGGS AND HATCHING CHICKS THEREFROM Filed 0013.?14, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FlCxH.

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@Tn/u IRA P7. PETERS/ME RAY M. PETERSAME,

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APPARATUS FR INCUBATING EGGS AND HATCHING CHICKS THEREFROM Filed Oct. 14, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 FIG. 78.

. Trwewm IRA M. PETERSIME, RAY M. PETERS/ME,

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Patented Oct. 17, 1939 PATENT OFI-TCE APPARATUS FOR INCUBATING EGGS AND HATCHING CHICKS THEREFROM Ira M. 'Petersime and Ray M. Petersime, Gettysburg, Ohio, asslgnors to The Petersime Inculiator Company, Gettysburg, Ohio, a corpora- `tion of Ohio Application october 14, 1935, serial No. 44,810

bating eggs and hatching chicks therefrom. The

several objects of the invention are as follows:

It is an object of the invention to provide a unitary1 incubator and hatcher, the several parts of which are capable of being used interchangeably as incubators or hatchers, or as both incubators and hatchers. y

It isra vfurther object to provide independent means for Ventilating the interior of the drum in each compartment, independent ymeans for stirring the air in each compartment, independent means for heating the air and water to control 'the temperature in each compartment, and independent means for applying moisture to the air in each compartment and of regulating independently the moisture in each compartment. The foregoing independent means are substantially alike in construction. 2 It is also an object of this invention to be able to control the moisturein the hatcher so as to reduce the amount of moisture articially put in the air in the hatcher because the chicks hatching in the hatcher give off moisture, and, thereu fore, a lesser amount of moisture'must be introduced into the hatcher. It is a further object of the invention to provide for tilting thedrum of egg-carrying trays in the hatcher so that the hatcher can be used for incubating purposes. The hatcher is used interchangeably for incubating or hatching, or both incubating and hatching, and the incubator can likewise be used for these several purposes so that it is possible for the hatcher with varying amounts of eggs at varying seasons, to have one machine an incubator with different-sized com- I partments, and, therefore, of different capacities so that when eggs are not plentiful he will have a relatively small compartment for incubating and hatching, and when eggs are very plentiful he can have a separate compartment for incubating and a separate compartment for hatching. It is a further object of the invention to provide, through perforated supporting shafts for the drums, for constant pulsation of fresh outside air into and out of the incubator and hatching compartments, which is particularly vital in connection with hatching, as it provides a constant sup- 50 ply of fresh air for the chicks as they are hatched and maintained in the hatcher while` awaiting removal.

' In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the ex- (Cl. 11S-37) terior of the incubator-hatcher embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the humidostat which automatically controls the humidity of the air in the incubator-hatcher, partly in section, and taken. along the line 2-2 of Figure 9.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the humidostat, in longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 9, showing the several parts and their relation to each other.

Figure 4 is a view-similar to Figure 3, taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 9 and showing more particularly the adjustable electric contact features.

Figure 5 is a further view of the'humidostat showing the electric contacts separated from each other and the circuit broken. l

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the incubator-hatcher taken on the line B--B of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 1 looking downwardly.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section of taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view `of the apparatus on the line 9 9 of Figure '1.

Figure 9a is a detail perspective view of a ventilating slide.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view on the line Ill-I0 of Figure 9.

i Figure 11 is a plan view of one of the hatching trays. f

Figure 12 is a plan view looking down on one of the incubating trays with the eggs therein.

Figure '13 is a view showing the hatching tray y placed on top of this incubating tray, preparatory to inverting the two trays so that the eggs will pass from the incubating tray into the hatching tray.

Figure 14 shows the two trays after they have been inverted.

the apparatus Figure 15 is a plan view looking down on the hatcher tray and on the eggs therein which have rolled over on their sides and become spaced apart where they will remain until the chicks break through the shells'and are hatched.v

Figure 16 is a view of the hatching tray with the brooder enclosure mounted thereon, so as to afford a temporary home for the chicks as they leave their egg shells.

Figure 1'7 is a detail view in vertical section showing the drum of the hatcher with the hatching tray superimposed by the brooder enclosure.

Figure 18 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the hatcher tray, taken on the line t8-I8 of Figure 6, with the brooder enclosure, for the protection of the newly hatched chicks, mounted on the tray.

Figure 19 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line I9--I9 of Figure 18. x

In Figure 1, the cabinet I of this incubatorhatcher is shown, looking at the front and one end 2 of the cabinet. At this end of the cabinet at the upper right-hand corner 3, are the switch box 3', where the electric current is turned on and off, and the signal box 3", both conventional features, not any part of this invention. And there is here shown also a socket 3"', for any use that may be desired.

Here is also shown the lever 99a, and quadrant 3Ib which are used in tilting, and vmaintaining tilted, the drums so as to incline the eggs first with their smaller ends to the right and then to the left, in imitation of the hen when she is attendingto the incubation of her eggs.

With reference particularly to Figure 7, wherein the larger, or incubating, compartment and the smaller, or hatching, compartments areillustrated, it will be seen that the construction and circuits for the humidostats and heaters are identical save for the size or proportions of the respective humidostats and heaters.

The current supply lines for the humidier motors 29 are designated a, a, and b designates. a wire which connects two of the terminal posts of each humidostat switch (Fig. 2). 'I'he circuit lines from terminal posts of the humidostat switch to the terminal posts d, d of each motor 29 are designated c, c.

The current supply lines for each heater 4 are designated e, e and are connected to each thermostat, while the wires f. .f connect each thermostat with the corresponding heater 4.

It will be further understood that we do not confine ourselves to any particular place for the position of the heaters. They are shown and described in detail in connection with Figure '7, where they are located on the iioor or bottom 1 of the incubator but they may be suspended from.

the ceiling as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9. In either case they function for like purposes.

The construction of the humidostat is'best shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. It comprises a tube 5, preferably of brass, with perforations 6, to permit the air to reach the core 1, which ts within the tube 5, and which core is made preferably of bass or chestnut wood. The grain of the core is cross-wise or vtransverse of the length of the core. The longitudinal expansion and contraction of the core are most uniform when the grainof the wood of the core is transverse to the 'axis of the core.

At one end the core 1 enters a sleeve 8 in which it tightly -ts, a pin 9 further holding' the core permanently within the sleeve.' A threaded stud I0 projects from the sleeve 8 and receives a tubular extension indicated at II, and this extension II, in turn,` receives a screw-threaded extension I2 from a shaftI3 whose end, I 4 is fashioned to receive a wrench, or otherinstrument, to adjust it rotatably to keep the parts tightly screwed together, and to adjust or vary the normal eiective length of the core including all its parts in their lengthwise measurement. At I5 is shown an inner tubular sleeve which encloses the parts II, I2 and partly I3, and which tubular sleeve screws into the threaded end of a coupling IB. The interior of this coupling I 6 is screw-threaded to receive the adjacent threaded end of the humidostat tube 5. These several parts are best shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the opposite end of the wood core 'I is fitted into a sleeve I1 formed on a. shaft I8, which constitutes an extension of the core 1. A pin I'Ia passes through the sleeve Il and core 'I to fasten these parts together. This shaft, or extension. I8 passes through, and is guided by, a part of the general bracket I9 which is secured at a convenient point within the cabinet, as at the point shown in Figure '7. The function of the extension I8 is to actuate the pivoted arm 2@ so as to move it away from the iixed arm 2I. 'I'hese arms carry the contact points indicated at 22, in Figs. 2 and 5. When the extension I8 is urged outward, or to the right, by the extension of the wood core, it swings the arm 20 outward and breaks the contact between the two contact points 22. See particularly Figure 5.

In the switch portion of each humidostat, the bracket I9 has thereon two supply terminal posts 23 and 23a (Fig. 2), to each of which is connected one of the humidifier motor current supply lines a. The contact point 22 on the pivoted arm 20 has a terminal post 23b connected thereto. The terminal posts 23a and 23h are connected by the wire b. The stationary contact point 22 on the fixed arm 2| has the terminal post 23e connected thereto. One of the circuit lines c connects one terminal d to the terminal post 23, lwhile the other circuit line c connects the terminal post 23e with the ,other terminal d of the humidifier motor 29.

Thus, when the contact points 22 are engaged, the humidifier motor circuit is complete and the motor 29 operates to increase the humidity in the particular compartment. As the humidity increases, the core I of the humidostat expands f proportionately, longitudinally, to urge the shaft or extension I8 rightwardly, as seen in Figures 4 and 5. When suliicient longitudinal expansion of the core 'I has occurred, the shaft or extension I8 swings the arm outwardly to disengage the contact points 22. As the continuity of the humidier motor circuit depends upon engagement of these contact points 22, the motor 29 becomes inoperative immediately upon separation of the points 22, as described. As the eiective length of the humidostat core may be adjusted, as described'above, the degree of humidity which will cause separation of the contact points .22 may be predeterminedly adjusted.

l When the humidity is below the chosen value, the motor 29 operates the humidiiier to increase the humidity in the compartment.

When the predetermined value or degree of humidity in the4 compartment is reached, the contact points are opened to de-energize the motor 29 and make the humidifier inoperative.

When, by reason of reduction of humidity, the length of the core 'I is sufficiently reduced to permit the contact points 22 to become engaged, the motor 29 is humidifier.

Thus, the humidity of the compartment is maintained within narrow limits approximating a value which is capable of adjustment in predetermined manner by adjusting the eiective length of the core 1 of the humidostat, as above described.l

Referring now to'the humidier, attention is drected to Figures '7, 9 and 10. It comprises a trough 26 for carrying a quantity `of Water and water litters consisting of a rotatable shaft 21 again .energized to operate lthe and a seriesY of discs 28 mounted on the shaft and adapted to rotate slowly through the water and Vto lift small quantities by each disc, which results from the 'rotation' of the shaft by a motor 29 suitably geared through gearing 3l to the shaft. See particularly Figure 7. The air within the cabinet, which is in commotion, with resulting irregular motions, picks up moisture from the water thus lifted from the body of water'in the trough and thus dropping back, as it does, from -the litters. v

We think this humidifier, or means of furnishing moisture to the air, is a very eifective and economicalpne. We have referred here particularly to this humidifier as seen in the incubating or left-hand, compartment, in Figure '7. A duplicate humidifier, of small size, .is likewise mounted and operated in the smaller, or hatcher,

compartment; Near each of these humidiilers is located, preferably, one of the heaters shown at 4 and 4a, respectively.

Referring now to the manner of mounting the drums in the incubator and hatchercompartments, and of introducing air into the central los portion of the drums'that are mounted in these compartments, We direct attention, particularly to Figs. 6 and 8. j

This part ofthe present invention constitutes an improvement over the construction and arrangement shown in Letters Patent issued toIra M. Petersime, one of the present inventors, under date of Nov. 24, 1925 and bearing No. 1,562,787. Under this patent the present apparatus is manufactured and sold, while the improvements herein set forth are now sought to be protected by the patent expected to be issued. In the present machine the cabinet is divided into two compartments, vone (the larger) designated at 3|, and the other (a hatcher compartment of smaller size) indicated at 32. These two compartments andthe functions performed in them constitute a part Vof the novelty and utility of -this present invention.

When the eggs shall have been in the incubating compartment for a period extending from 17, or 17V2 days, and through the 18th day, they have completed the period of incubation. In this present machine, the incubating-can be carried on wholly in the larger compartment 3|, and the final step of hatching can be conducted in thel smaller compartment 32. Or, the incubating portion of the period can be conducted and performed in both of the compartments concurrently and the hatching process can also be conducted in both chambers.

But usually in the present machine, the larger chamber is devoted to the steps of treatment constituting the incubating of the eggs, and the steps constituting the hatching period will be conducted ln the smaller compartment.

The drums and central means of introducing air among them, and the agitating mechanism, are independent, or independently mounted in the incubating and hatching compartments; and can be operated' each as a unit or separately, one set. of these features operating in the larger compartment for incubating purposes and the smaller set operating in the smaller compartment for hatching purposes. l

Referring next to the incubating mechanism, the numeral 23, Figs. 6 and 8 particularly, designates a hollow shaft having bearings 34 supported by one end wall and by a partition wall. This hollow shaft is in the nature of a pipe. It is provided with perforations or holes 35, preferbly staggered in position as show n clearly in Figs.` 6 and '8. It will be observed that air may freely enter the open end of this hollow shaft -and may circulate through it and out of it \through the perfor-ations. The air is induced by the agitating action of the agitator to enter this perforations is also thereby facilitated. A pulsation of the air due to the action of the agi tator takes place' at the entrance and within this hollow shaft. `These sources of air supply, it will be observed, are located centrally of the drums, so that that air will be introduced at their center and spread radially from the center through and between the trays and amongst the eggs. And. of course, it is to be understood that air also enters between the trays as it spreads through the drums. These factors result in ,hollowshaft: vancl its flow out through the imparting to the air a thorough agitation. stirring and churning. with no defined directions. n

yet permeating throughout the drums and amongst the eggs.

This hollow shaft 33 carries the drum, oldrum heads. 36, 31, and 38. which are circular in form and are provided with tray supports 39 in the nature of ribs on which the trays 40 are placed. These trays are formed of sides and ends. box-like, and furnished with bottoms. prei'- erably of woven wire. so as to support the eggs. say preferably standing on their larger ends which settle down somewhat in the interstices between the wires. See Fig. l2. The eggs are placed in these trays and the trays are placed in the Adrums and supported therein on trav sonneri-s 39. These incubating trays are tilted at intervals first to one side of the center of the .drums and then to the other side.,in order to incline the eggs as the hen does her eggs when she is setting. For this purpose the drums are rotated through a desired angle. For this purpose the shaft 30 is provided with a crank 3M shown in Fig. 1. so that these adjustments may be made without opening the doors of the incubator. A quadrant Bib guides the crank 30a and forms stops against which the lever rests when the drum has been adjusted to one or the other of the two positions named. See Fl mre 1 The agitator for stirring and putting the air in commotion is mounted on this hollow shaft 33 and is of the form best shown in Figs. 8 and 9. 60

It consists of a spider. or hub, 4|, seen best in y Figure 9. and of radial arms or spokes 42 and blades 43 which extend from one arm or spoke 42 to the corresponding one on the other spider. These agitators are revolved at a comparatively slow speed, about 90-110 revolutions per minute. The blade encircles the drums as they pass round and round. They disturb the air and put it in a state of agitation. The spiders are mounted on the hollow shaft on which they turn with the wheel 44. This wheel is grooved and carries a power transmission belt 45 which is driven by the motor 46 having a pulley 41 on which-the belt is also placed. By these means the agitator is rotated about the drum and about the trays. 85

This results in the air passing in and among the trays and eggs undergoing incubation, and in picking up moisture and heat from the water lifters and the electric heaters shown respectively at 28 and 4, in Figure 7 and at 28 and 4 in Figure 9.

The agitator and the operating motor have been omitted from Figure 6 in the interest of y clearness.

The agitationof the air also induces, due to n its constant motions, its entrance into the hollow shaft whence it passes in all directions out through the perforations in the shaft, so as to give a thorough aeratlngof the structure in and about the center of the drums.

Referring now to the hatching compartment, it will be observed, particularly from Figs. 6 and 8, that it also has a hollow shaft 48 with perforations 49 for the exit of the air taken in through the open end of the shaft. This compartment also has a drum 56, made in the same fashion as that described in referring to the incubating compartment. The hatching compartment also has an air agitator like that in the incubating compartment, the former being made up of the spiders 50a, radial arms or spokes 5| and blades 52, and is equipped with a pulley 5t, a duplicatie of the one 41 in the incubating compartment: a belt 53 drives this pulley and is driven by a pulley 54 and motor 55. The pulley 54 is connected with the spokes or arms of the agitator whereby the agitator is rotated when the belt actuates the pulley 54 in the hatcher compartment.

The hatcher compartment also has egg trays mounted in the drum. These trays are designated 56. The trays are mounted in the hatcherdrum in the same manner as are the trays in the incubator-drum.

We now come to an explanation of the manner in which the incubated eggs, at the endof the 18th day, are placed in the hatcher compartment. To facilitate an understanding of these features, see Figs. 1l to 17 inclusive. The following is the system or method, and the means, whereby the incubated eggs at the end of the incubation period are transferred to the hatcher and how they are placed therein:

In Fig. 11, 56 designates a hatcher tray which is empty.

In Fig. 12, designates an incubator egg tray containing incubated eggs.

In Fig. 13 the hatcher tray 56 has been inverted and placed on the upper side of the incubator tray d0.

In Fig. 14, the incubator tray 40 has been inverted and the hatcher tray 56has been turned over with the top side up. The eggs have, therefore, been transferred or let down from lthe incubator tray 40 into the hatcher tray 56.

In Fig. 15 the hatcher tray 56 is shown with the incubating tray removed. It will be noticed that the eggs in the hatcher tray, Fig. 15, are on their sides and occupy various positions according to how they come to rest when they reach the.`

foraminous bottom of tray 56. This position of the eggs may be called their hatching positionr in this machine. f

In Figure 16 the hatcher tray 56, now lled I with eggs, has placed upon it a cage C in the nature cf a brooder to form an open-work enclosure for the chicks as they are hatched and where they' remain until removed lfrom the hatcher. This enclosure .prevents them from falling, or getting into other parts of the hatcher, to which end a lid D is placed on the enclosure C.

To further facilitate an understanding of all this, we have added Fig. 17, a vertical sectional view through a part of the ends or heads of the drum, through the hatcher tray 56 and the enclosure C'.

The number of the hatcher trays that are manipulated in the manner described and are put in the hatcher in the condition shown in Figs.- 16 and 17, is the same as the number of trays that aretaken out of the incubator compartment, these trays being manipulated as shown in'Figs. 11 to 17.

In Fig. 18, we have shown the construction of the enclosure or brooder, and the means of securing it to the hatcher tray 56. A metal frame is composed of corner plates or posts e4 which are connected together by wire gauze end sheets b4. These corner pieces are bent at a substantial right angle to form a sort of foot piece c1 to rest on the upper face of the frame of the hatcher tray 56. A sort of band or strip of metal d4 is placed about the lower portion of this housing to stiften it. Plates, or corner pieces, e4, are also employed together with an upper p late and a lower plate f4 to form the general frame of the housing or brooder. The sides, like the ends of this structure, are made up of sheets of wire gauze g4. A wire gauze cover indicated at h4 with turned-down flanges i4 is provided to keep the chicks from getting out at the top of the brooderlike enclosure or cage C.

- Figure 19 is a detail view in horizontal section of one corner of a tray showing part of a side member and part of `an end member of the tray, and a portion of one of the ends or heads of a drum. A locking bolt 1'4 with a handle lc4 and a point Z4, is fitted in a hole or groove in one side of the tray frame. This bolt is projected into-an opening m4 in the head of the drum in order to secure the tray in the drum should it be desirable to interlock the trays with the drums.

In Fig. 9a we have shown in perspective one of the Ventilating slides designated la. These slides are placed in a manner to open and close ventilating openings I b in a wall of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 9. The particular wall where the Ventilating openings are provided and Where these slides are located is a matter of choice. We usually place the slides asshown in Fig. 9, one near the bottom and the other near the top of themachine. An operating rod Icis attached to each slide in order to manipulate the slides from the outside. Such operating rods pass through the adjacent walls to be accessible from the outside.

It willbe understood that we desire to comprehend within our invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses. v

Having thus fully described our invention, whatwe claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an incubator, the combination with a cabinet comprising an interior compartment, egg trays and adjustable supporting means therefor located in said compartment, and air moving. means movable in a path encircling said egg trays, of a hollow shaft having radial perforations and forming an axial concentric support for the tray-supporting means, said hollow shaft being adapted to cooperate with said air moving means to receive outside air and convey and distributeit radially outwardly in and about the central portion of the interior of the tray-supporting means, and an outlet in said cabinet for said air.

2. In combination, a cabinet comprising two compartments, an air agitator rotatably mounted in each compartment, a drum-like structure in each compartment and egg-incubating trays mounted in one drum and hatching trays mounted in the other drum, a hollow supporting shaft for each compartment, each shaft supporting 'a drum, and both shafts having radial perforations and adapted to receive air and distribute it radially outwardly in the central zones of the drum u' structures, and air moving means supported on each shaft and movable thereon in a path about the trays for drawing in outside air through its supporting shaft and an outlet in said cabinet for said air.

3. In an incubator, the combination with a cabinet comprising two independent compartments, egg-tray supporting means within each compartment, a pipe mounted in each compartment and forming aconcentric supporting shaft for the egg-tray supporting means, said pipes each being open at one end, and having radial air delivery perforations, and adapted to supply air outwardly through the 'egg trays to the interior of each compartment, and air moving means revolubly supported by each shaft for movement in a path about the egg tray supporting means therein to draw in outside air axially.

through said shaft for delivery through said radial air-delivery perforations into the compartment and an outlet in said cabinet for said air.

4. In van incubator-hatcher, a compartment, av hollow perforated air supply pipe therein, air

agitating means supported on said pipe for travel I in a circular path about said pipe, means on said pipe for supporting egg trays between said pipe and the path of said air agitating means, said air supply pipe being adapted to supply air outwardly through said egg trays to the path of said air agitating means, and said air agitating means providing the sole means for moving air into and out of said air supply pipe and an outlet in said cabinet for said air.

5. In an incubator-hatcher, a compartment and means in said compartment including a centrally located perforated air supply pipe, egg tray supporting racks supported on said pipe, and air agitating means supported on said pipe and revoluble about said egg tray supporting racks, and an outlet in said cabinet for said air.

IRA M. PETERSIME. RAY M. PETERSIME. 

